Signments



(No Model.) 10 Sheets-Sheet 3. M. M. HOOTON.

GRAIN BINDER. No. 327,086. Patented Sept. 29, 1885.

(No Model.) 10 Sheets-Sheet 5.

M. M. HOOTON.

GRAIN BINDER.

No. 327,086. Patented Sept. 29,1885.

llilll (No Model.) I 10 Sheets-Sheet 7. M. M. HOOTON.

GRAIN BINDER. No. 327,086. I Patented Sept. 29, 1885.

o z I o y mum A Zfiwssea 0 Q l O jwenfor:

(No Model.) Q 10 Sheets-Sheet 8. M. M. HOOTON.

GRAIN BINDER. No. 327,086. Patented Sept. 29, 1885.

' Mae/S868.- jwerzi'or:

N. PETERS. Phclouhu m her. Washington, 0.6.

(No Model.)

10 Sheets-Sheet 10.

M. M. HOOTON. GRAIN BINDER.

z/lwsses NlTED ST TES MARSENA M. HOOTON, OF CHICAGO,

PATENT Cerise.

ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS- GRAIN-BINDER- SPECIFICATION forming. part of Letters Patent No. 327,086, dated September 29, 1885.

Application tiled November 10, 18:32.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARSENA M. HOOTON, a citizen of the United States, residing in Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain-Binders, of which the following is the specification.

This invention relates to improvements in grain-binders in which twine is employed to to bind the sheaf, and the binding mechanism is upon the same side of the binder as the sicklebar,and the binding-table,on substantially the same horizontal plane with the grain-receiving platform, or, generally,to that class of binders known as the lowdown.

The objects of this invention in general are to gather and bind the grain with the least possible expenditure of power and with the greatest possible rapidity, and'in particular to straighten the grain during its passage from the grain-receiving platform to the binding-table; to size and divide the gavel fi om the grain on the grain-receiving platform before the gavel is shifted into the binder; to shift the gavel,when formed,into the binder,and at the same time separate the gavel while being bound from the grain being conducted from the grain-reeeiving platform toward the binding mechanism; to subject the gavel to a first 3o compression as it enters the binder, and then to a second compression during the operation of the knotter, so as to slacken the band at a proper time for effectually preventing the knotter from breaking or fraying the twine;

to release the bound sheaf from mechanical compression after the band is knotted, but be fore it is released from the knotter, so that the expanding of the sheaf will tighten the knot prior to the removal of the sheaf from the machine; to retain such a hold on the twine when once in the knotter that the lateral escape of the twine therefrom is rendered impossible until the knot is formed and tightened; and, finally, to provide certain details of construetion hereinafter described. I attain these objects by devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine embodying myinvention; Fig. 2, a plan view of the same with a greater portion of the receiving-platform broken off; Fig. 3, a'detail (No model.)

rear elevation of the same. showing the drivechains and sprocket-wheels connecting the binding mechanism with the drivewheel of the reaper. Fig. 4 is a detail front end view of thebinding mechanism; Fig. 5, a front end elevation of the separating devices and mechanism for operating the same; Fig. 6, a side elevation of the binding mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 4.; Fig. 7, a front elevation of the mechanism employed to compress the bundles; Fig. 8, a side elevation of a spring-seated yoke operating the bifurcated lever engaging with the cain'face of the large gear-wheel of the binding mechanism to swing the lever and With it the binding-arm and its opposing compressing arm, so that said arms will be released "from a bundle of grain and open to receive another. Fig. 9 is a rear elevation of the binding and compressing arms open to receive a bundle of grain, the position of the arms when closed upon the bundle being shown in dotted lines; Fig. 10. a plan view ofthe k notting mechanism; Fig. ll, a detail plan view of the under side of the forward cam of the looper device and the mechanism connected therewith for lifting the loop over and upon the looper and for operating the twine-holder, (shown in part'at the left of the figure.) Fig.

12 is a sectional view of the line yy.Fig.ll,with the twine-holder removed; Fig. 13. a plan view of the rearward cam-face underneath, (shown in dotted lines.) and the vibrating segmentplate, which engages with the beveled pinion of the looper-shaft or with the swingstudded arm which engages with the looper shell or tube; Fig. 14, a cross-section of the slotted point of the looper on the line or m of Fig. 18, showing the relative position of the looper-shell and the inclosed stem or shaft in position to receive the twine; Fig. 15, a similar view showing the position of the twine after the shell is revolved to grasp the twine between it and the shaft preparatory to forming the loop; Fig. 1.6, a similar view showing the position of the twine in the shaft after both the shaft and shell have been simultaneously withdrawn and revolved a three-fourths turn and advanced to receive the twine a second time; Fig. 17, a similar view showing the [00 position of. the twine during withdrawal of the looper in its final operation and before and engaging the looper sleeve and shaft, the.

shaft being shown in full lines; Fig. 21, a

plan view of the twine-guide, the looper, and

the pin for lifting the loop formed by twisting the twine over and upon the point of the looper; Fig. 22, an end view of the looper in the position shown in Fig. 21, with the twineguide removed, and showing the relative position of the cutting-knife and the twineholder to thelooper; Fig. 23, a side elevation of the point of the loopershaft and shell, showing the slot in the latter, which slot is on the under side thereof when the shell is first revolved to close the looper on the twine; Fig. 24, a crosssection through the beveled pinion of the looper-shaft, showing the spline of the pinion engaging with a longitudinal groove of said shalt; Fig. 25, a detail side elevation of the looper-shaft with the loopershell removed, showing the slot which is on the upper side of said shaft when the looper is in its first position to receive the twine, which slot, when the looper-shell is first revolved, serves with the slot in the shell to close both extremities of the eye of the looper upon the twine. Fig. 26 is aplan view of the inner face of the twine-guide. Fig. 27 is an end elevation of the looper-shell removed from the looper -shaft. Fig. 28 is a detail of the looper and lifting-finger, showing the position of the formed loop before it is lifted over upon the looper; Figs. 29 and 30, enlarged perspective views of the notched shaft; Figs. 31 and 52, similar views of the shell.

Similar letters and numerals of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures of the drawings.

A represents the main supporting drivewheel of the reaper; B, the frame in which one end of the axle of said wheel is journaled; G, the grain-receiving platform, and D the finger-bar of an ordinary reaper.

The grain-receiving platform is an ordinary double table, and the devices mounted thereon for carrying the grain (which devices are fully described in Letters Patent No. 255.510, granted me March 18, 1882) may be briefly set forth as follows: Rigid on the end bar next the standing grain is a shaft, 72, on which loose sheaves t i have their hearing, which sheaves carry endless sprocket-chains K, traveling in the upper side of the grain-receiving platform in guides Z in the top of said platform, said chains being driven (see Fig. 2) by sprocketwheels in m, rigidly secured on the revolving shaft 6. At suitable intervals on the chains are pivoted teeth 0, having heels (not shown) extending backward under the chains, by means of which the teeth are held in an upright position when in the guides, but when released therefromswingdownwardly until again engaged with the guides. The drive-wheel is provided with the usual external gear, a, rigidly secured thereto, (see Fig. 2,) gearingwith the pinion b on the shaft c,eXtending at a right angle to the drive-wheel, which shaft carries on its outer end a beveled gear, (1, engaged by a beveled pinion, 6, through shaft f, journaled in the frame B and carrying on its outer end the crank-wheel g, which, by means of a connecting rod operates the cutter bar in the usual manner. Opposite the pinione is a corresponding pinion, 1, upon a horizontal shaft, 2, carrying upon its outer end a sprocketwheel, 3, said pinion l gearing with the beveled gear d, by which it is actuated. Passing around the sprocketwheel 3 is an endless drive-chain, 4, which passes around and operates a sprocket-wheel, 5, rigid on ashaft, 6, carrying a series of sprocket-wheels, which operate the conveyenchains of the grain-re ceiving platform. Drive-chain 4 is elevated at a point between the drive-wheel and the grain-hinder, hereinafter described, by means of sheaves 7 and 8, journaled in suitable brackets upon a sill, 9, (see Fig. 1,) supported atits front end upon the frame of the machine, and at its opposite end (see Fig. 3) upon an arch, 10, spanning a gap formed in the frame by cutting away its rear sill to provide an opening for the passage of the bundles of grain from the binder, said sill 9 being provided with a hanger, 11, in which the inner end of the axle of the drive-wheel is journaled, and serving as a lateral brace to the frame. The

shaft 6 has rigidly secured thereto a pinion,-

12, earing with a corresponding pinion, 18, upon a short shaft, 14, journaled in the rear sill of the frame and in the strap 15, said shaft 14 also carrying a sprocket-wheel, 16, connected with a large sprocket-wheel, 17, by drive chain 18. Sprocket wheel 17 is confined between the rear sill of the frame and a bracket-plate, 17 'l, and is splined upon ashaft, 19, bearing in the plate 175, said shaft being the drive-shaft of the bindingmechanism,and is longitudinally grooved to receive the spline of the sprocket-wheel, so that while said shaft cannot revolve independent of the sprocketwheel it is free to reciprocate therein for the purpose of adjusting the gavel and bindingtables, as hereinafter more fully described. Shaft 19 is journaled upon the under side of a table, 20, and is prevented from a longitudinal movement independent of the table by collars (not shown) rigidly fixed to the shaft on each side of the bearing, said table being mounted and adapted to be reciprocated on horizontal guide-rods 21 (see Figs. 1 and 4) and supporting the gavel-gage and binding mechanism, theknotter being secured on the under side of the table in the case E, and the binding-arm operating from above through a transverse slot in the table.

ICC

To promote a clear understanding of the through and are secured in the lower side of operation of this machine, that portion of the table 20 which is inside of the gavel-gage may, for convenience, be termed a gavel-table, because on that portion of the table 20 the gavel is fully formed and separated from the inflowing grain, andthat portion of the table 20 outside of the gavel-gage and overthe knotter may be called the binding-table, which two tables as awhole are made adjustable fore and aft to provide for adjusting the gavelgage and binding mechanism to operate the long or short grain, as the case may be. To adjust these devices for long grain, the table 20 is moved bodily toward the rear end of the machine; but for short grain it is moved toward the front end of the machine, the groove of the shaft 19 and spline of the sprocket-wheel 17 permittingthis adjustment without interfering with' th'e rotation of the shaft and the operation of the mechanism carried by the table.

Bolted to the front end of the table 20 is an overhanging bracket, 22, (see Figs. 1 and 2,) suspending the binding and compressing arms, and having rigidly secured in its uprightportion a studded axle, 23, projecting at a right angle from the same, and forming a shaft for a cam-wheel, 24, and gear-wheel 25, which wheelsare rigidly connected by a hub or sleeve, so as to revolve together, but are suificiently separated from each other to provide for the operation between them of levers engaging with the inner canrfaces of the gear and cam wheels, to be hereinafter described.

Pivoted on the stud 26, secured to the sliding table, are two levers, one of which, 27, engages with the cam 28 on the side of the camwheel 24, and has a projecting arm, 29, pro vided on its end with a rack-bar or segment engaging with a pinion, 30, splined upon the shaft3l, journaled in the inner portion of the end sills of the grain receiving platform, and provided with one or more arms, 32, which are termed transfer-fingers, for the reason that, operating between a series of slats, 33, bridging the space between the grain-receiving platform and the binding-table, they serve to transfer the gavel already formed between the gavel-gage and divider to the binding mechanism, said fingers being ofsuch a length that when depressed they do not extend beyond the inner edge of the grain-receiving table. The other canrlever, 34, works on the periphery of the cam 24, which is recessed at 35, and the lower projecting arm of the lever 34 engages with an elongated rib, 36, formed of a bent rod, the two ends of which are inserted in the shaft 37, journaled in the front and rear sills of the grain-receiving platform, and having attached thereto a divider, consisting of a bent rod, 38, forming one side of a rectangular frame, the other three sides of which are formed of a bent rod, 39, having eyes on its ends encircling therod 38, said frame having secured to its upper side wire teeth 40, which project the frame, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 4, and 5. This frame,with the teeth, forms a shield over the binder, and is supported entirely from the shaft 37 by the rod 38. and when let down upon the grain-receiving table separates the grain thereon from the formed gavel on the gavel-table, and prevents the grain lying on the said grain-receiving table from being drawn into'the binder when the gavel is being moved forward to and upon the binding-table by the transfer-fingers. By this means a perfect division and separation is effected between the indowing grain and the complete gavel, it being understood in this connection, however, that as soon as the transfer-fingers have carried the gavel forward in reach of the binderarm which carries it to the binder the gavel gage rises to a perpendicular position, and the divider is lifted, so that an inflowing of grain against the gavel gage is permitted while the sheaf is being bound. The frame, when a heavy wind is blowing and there is a tendency to blow the grain therethrough or to tangle and twist it therein, may be covered with a piece of canvas or other piece of fabric to render such an objection impossible.

Pivoted on the line dividing the binding from the gavel table, and by means of straps or staples 41, is agavelgage, 42, consisting of a shaft provided with one or more teeth projecting at a right angle therefrom,which shaft has upon its end an arm, 43, secured upon a collar loose upon the shaft, but connected therewith by a coiled spring, 43%, permitting the shaft to make a partial rotation independ' ent of the arm, and operated as hereinafter described. This gavel-gage operates as a back stop for the grain which, falling on the stationary grain-receiving platform 0, is carried by the teeth of the endless carrier chains against the gage, which, when overcome by the bulk and pressure of the grain, swings over backward until flat on the table, and permits the transfer-fingers to then move the completed gavel forward to and upon the binder-table. The gavel-gage is upheld by the retracting spring 43, coiled about the shaft 42, and having one end of it fixed thereto and the other end projecting out and bearing upon the table, the tension of which spring is increased when the gage is depressed by the gavel, so that when the gavel has passed beyond the gage into the binder the spring will cause the gavel gage to immediately assume an upright position for gaging another gavel from the grain which again begins to flow in upon the gavel-table during the operation of binding the first gavel. Gear 25 meshes with a pinion, 44, loose on the projecting end of the constantly-revolving shaft 19, and this pinion has rigidly secured thereto one halfof a clutch, 45, (see Fig. 6.) the other half of which clutch is splined on the shaft 19, and by this means the teeth of the clutch may be disengaged and the pinion will then stand idle upon the shaft, though of course constantly meshing with the gear 25. grooved on its periphery (see Fig. 6) to receive a bifurcated lever, 46, hinged to an arm, 47, rigidly secured to and projecting from the shoulder 48 on the bracket 22, and on the end of the shaft 19 is a washer, 49, between which and the sliding portion of the clutch, and coiled about the shaft, is a spiral spring, 50, for throwing the clutch into engagement. Hinged lever 46 is provided, near its lower end, with an elongated slot, and has hinged near its upper end a swinging lever, 51, on the front and lower end of which is hinged a foot-piece, 52, projecting through the 'elongated slot, and having near its hinged end a heel, 53, projecting upwardly and engaged by a spring, 54, having a loose bearing on the heel and rigidly secured at its other end to the lever 46. This spring not only operates to push the lever 51 and the foot-piece away from the lever 46, but to lift the foot-piece. so that the shoulder or enlargement formed thereon will engage or catch on the inside of the lever 46 at the upper end of the slot, the foot-piece being provided at its free or outer end with a transverse pin or enlargement to prevent the spring from throwing it entirely out of the slot. and the lever 51 being oper-,

ated by and through cam-projection 55 on the side of gear 25, (see Figs. 1 and 4,) which cam intermittently engages with the lever 51 near its lower end.

Referring to Fig. 1, in which the binderarm, the divider, and the gavel-gage are raised, and the cam 55 (by levers 46 and 51) is pressing against lever 51, it will be seen that when the gavel has thrown down the gage it will cause the arm 43 to press down the footpiece until the lever 46 is forced over it and the clutch-pinion engaged with the clutch-half through the expansive force of the spring 50. The moment the pinion and clutch-half 45 are engaged, the gear 25 revolves, and releasing cam from lever 51, the lever is thrown inwardly by a spring, 54, drawing the foot-picce in engagement with lever 46, where the foot-piece remains until again tripped by the gavel, after the cam 55 has made arevolution and engages with lever 51, and causes the disengagement of the clutch-half and pinion and the binding mech anism to stop. On the instant the gear 25 begins to revolve, the lever 27 is engaged by its cam, causing the transfer-fingers to rise and transfer the gavel toward and partially under the compressor and off the gavel-gage, which then, through its retracting spring, as before stated, immediately assumes an upright position to stop and cut off from the binder the incoming grain, constituting a fresh gavel. In this connection it should be stated that a single revolution of gear 25 causes a complete operation of the entire binding mechanism.

Journaled in the overhanging arm of the bracket 22 is a shaft, (see Figs. 4 and 9 and dotted lines, Fig. 6,) projecting beyond each The splined portion of the clutch is extremity of the bracket, which shaft has rigidly keyed upon its rearward or inner end a hook-shaped binder-arm,57,the butt of which is provided with a segmentgear, 57, engaging with a corresponding gear, 57%, journaled on the stud 59, projecting from the overhanging arm of the bracket 22. The outer end of the stud has sleeved thereon a compressing-arm, 58, connected with the segmentgear 57%; by a rigid arm, 57, projecting from the segment and perforated to permit a curved rod, 58, rigid on the compressingarm, to play freely through it, a pin in the extremity of the rod 58 serving to prevent their detachment, and has spring 58, springseating the arm 57 and with it the segment-gear, on the compressing-arm 58. The purpose in so connecting the compressing-arm with the segment-gear is to permit an automatic yielding of the arm to accommodate varying sizes of gavels, and the pressure of the arm upon large and small gavels is correspondingly increased or diminished by the compression and expansion of the spring 58". It will now be seen that when a large gavel is in the hinder the arm 58 cannot descend as low as with a small gavel; hence, as soon as the arm comes in contact with a large gavel, with the segment continuing to revolve, the arm 57 compresses the spring 58 and forces the compressingarm tightly upon the gavel, and that when the compressing-arm is stopped in its forward movement by the resistance of the gavel the spring will permit the segment to move on to the end of its stroke, thereby avoiding any tendency to an over-compression of the gavel or to injure the segment or arm. It might be well to add that in view of the uniform downstroke of the binding-arm 57, if segment 57 were rigid upon the compressingarm 58, the compression last described would inevitably break some of the binding mechanism.

The binding and compressing arms are'operated by bell-crank 60 on the forward end of shaft 56, (see Fig. 4,) the, long arm of which engages intermittently with the segmental rib or cam 61 (see Fig. 6, and dotted lines, Fig. 4) upon the inner face of the gear 25, which cam describes a sufficient part of a circle so that when the lever is released from one end of the cam during the revolution of the gear, and is swung toward the opposite side of the IIO gear from the position shown in Fig. 4, and i it will be seen that whenthe bell-crank is carried to the position shown in full lines in Fig.

4 the spring is compressed by the rising of the short arm, but as soon as the bell-crank is released from the cam the expansion of the spring will quickly swing the bell-crank to the position indicated in dotted lines and cause a corresponding movement of the binding and compressing arms 57 and 58. When the bell-crank is on the cam, as shown in Fig. 4, thebinding and compressing arms are closed or swung to the lowest position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 9, and are firmly held and compressing asheaf; but when the bell-crank is released from the cam the arms are swung outwardly to the position shown in full lines in said figure.

For the purpose of relieving the friction of the bell-crank in its first engagement with the cam 61, an anti-friction roller, 64, (see dotted lines, Fig. 4,) forms the extremity of the cam, which extremity in its first engagement with the bell-crank slides over a suitable portion of the side edge of the bell-crank during the time the bell-crank is being swung to the left in Fig. 4:, and to its highest position, and be fore the end of the bellcrank comes in contact with the cam.

The engagement of the side edges of the lever with the cam in the above-described manner results in agradually increasing power of the lever and a corresponding increase of pressure of the binding and compressing arms as they descend upon the sheaf, or in any case an increasing pressure with a given amountof power at the beginning of the movement of the binding and compressing arms.

To compress the gavel to a size corresponding to that of the required size of band for successfully holding the grain forming the sheaf in its finished state, and to still further compress the sheaf, after it is encircled by the band,to give the band sufficient slack for permitting the knottcr to operate without breaking the band, so that the expansion of the sheaf, when relieved from the compression, will tighten the knot and take up the slack of the band and still form a tight sheafii have provided what is termed an auxiliary compressor, which will now be described.

Referring to Figs. 1, 4, and 6, is a bracket-arm rigidly secured on the overhanging bracket 22, and has pivoted thereto a lever, 66, in the forward end of which is pivoted a depending arm, 67, guided in brackets 68. secured on the overhanging bracket 22, which bracket 68 has the arm 67 passing through it, said arm having an anti-friction roller, 69, and engaging with the short segmental cam 70, the operation of which is to intermittently lift the arm 67 and rock the lever 66 on its pivot in the bracket 65. The rear end of lever 66 is pivoted in the stud 71, projecting from the spring-seated bar 72 (see Fig. 7) of the auxiliary sheaf-co1npressor. Supporting the auxiliary sheaf-compressor above the hind ing-table and guiding it in its vertical reciprocation is a rigid frame composed of the bracket 73, bolted to the overhanging bracket 22 at a right angle to the same, and having at its outer ends two sleeves, 74, and two parallel rods, 75, rigid in the bracket 73, and connected at their upper ends by a bar, 76, having projecting ends perforated to provide guides for parallel rods 7 7 .which pass through the sleeves 74. These rods are encircled by coiled springs 78, and projecting at their upper ends through the bar 76, and are connected by a bar, 79, which, in connection with a curved bar, 80, which connects the lower ends ofthe rods 77, serves to form a rigid frame adapted to be reciprooated through the sleeve 74. The end of the curved bar projects over the inner end of the grain-receiving platform to guide the gavel, when thrown by the transfer-fingers, under the auxiliary gavelcompressor, and in position to be operated upon by the principal compressor. The tension of the coiled springs 78 is such that the compressor is projected by them so near the surface of the bindingtable that the gavel is necessarily forced under the compressor and consequently slightly compressed, the forcing of the gavel lifting the frame of the compressor, as indicated in Fig. 7, thereby COI11- pressing the upper ends of the spring 78 against the bar 72, which is then stationary. This,whioh I term the first compression of the gavel, is sufficient, in connection with the binding and compression arms, to give the sheaf the desired size and tightness it will have when completed and discharged from the machine. By the-time the first compression is completed the bindingarm has carried the twine taut around and underneath the gavel and in position to be taken hold of by the looper, and at the instant the looper seizes the twine the depending arm 67 is engaged by its cam 70, and depressing the bar 72 compresses the spring 78 and drawing down the compressor' frame, and subjects the gavel to asecond compression, which permits the band toslack and prevents the looper breaking the band, as it would otherwise frequently do in taking up enough twine to form the knot.

The auxiliary compressor forms an important feature of my invention, for the reason that. operated by a direct steady movement, it effects no injury to the grain, as do packers, and, furthermore, by its co-operation with the binding and compressing arms, the pressare is more evenlydistributed over the entire circumference of the sheaf, thus making a more perfect bundle without injury to the grain than other machines now employed.

Pivoted near the extremity of the binding arm 57 is a tucking-arm, 81, a transverse sec tion of which is wider than the slot in the table, and has its free end concave to form a guide for the twine, which, passing through an ordinary tension-guide, Sit, on the overhanging bracket, is upheld by the arm 82, Fig. 9, and passes thence through the eye 83 in the point ofthe bindi ngarm, and thence passes to and is held by the twine-holder, presently to be described. Said tucking-arm is provided IIO ; arm to the twineholder, and as the bindingarm continues, carrying the twine with it through the slot in the table and the gavel be fore it, the end of the tucker will strike against the incline formed of one or more curved projections or lugs, 85, on the gavel-table, which.

throw the tucker away from the binder-arm and forward on the table, so as to catch and tuck the twine under the sheaf, pressing the twine forward and sustaining it in contact with the extremity of the twine already held in a vertical line between the twine-guides and in position to be gripped by the knott-er. These twine-guides (see Fig. 26) are formed by projections 86 and 87, respectively, formed above and below a perforation in a plate, 88, secured on the case E, containing theknotting mechanism, said perforations being in alignment with and adapted to permit the looper to project through it, and the guides being arranged a little to the one side of avertical line through the perforation. so as to permit the twine when resting against them to be drawn across the center of the perforation and in a line with the receiving-slot in the looper. (See Fig. 22.) The twine-guide plate is also provided near its lower edge with a stud, 89. between which and the guide 87 is a depression or hearing, 90, to receive the projecting end of the twine-holder 91, which forces the twine into the depression and clamps it to the plate, the stud 89 serving as a guide, against which the twine is held over the depression to permit the reciprocating twi ne-holder 91 to clamp it, (see Figs. 21, 22, and 26,) the binding-arm carrying the twine downwardly and partially around the stud 89 for that purpose.

The knotter is contained in a suitable case,

E, (see Fig. 10,) to protect the knotting mechanisni from dust and other foreign substances, which case is secured to and underneath the binding-table by means of bolts or other equivalent means passing through lugs on the case into the table, which table forms a cover for the same, said case being provided with suitable openings in one end for the operation of the twine-holder, already described, and the knotter and cutter now to be described.

The looper is essentially composed of a sf em or shaft and an inclosing shell or tube. The stem or shaft 92, which is a slotted rod, (or it may be a tube,) is provided at its forward end with a raised shoulder, 93, the forward portion of which converges toward a point. and the rear of the shoulder extends at a right angle to the length of the stem, and to form a seat for the end of the inclosing shell or tube 94, surrounding the stem and extending nearly one-third its length. The stem and its inclosingrshell are each provided with transverse intersecting slots, one of which (see Fig. 14) is a slot, 95, in the center of the end of the stem and its inclosing-shell, and of the depth shown in Fig. 20, and the rear end of the slot in the stem is notched at 96, (see Fig. 25,) so that one side wall of said notch is at an oblique angle to the opposite wall of the slot (see Fig. 14) and merges into it at about the center of the diameter of the stem, and the shell (see Fig. 27) is correspondingly notched at 97 on the opposite side and the corresponding side of the slot. These slots in the stem and shell, when coincident, permit the introduction of the twine when held in a perpendicular line to the slots, after which the shell is turned to the left, as in Fig. 15, throwing the twine against the inclined wall of the notch 96 of the stem, (see Fig. 14,) when at the same time the slot on the under side of the shell passes the slot 95 in the end of the stem, and, the end of the shell closing, the slot of the stem confines the twine in the notch 97, and by this means the twine is held so that it cannot be drawn laterally, but is free to have a longitudinal movement through thestem an d its inclosing-shell. \Vhen the stern and shell are in the position shown in Fig. 15, a slot, 98, extends through both the stem and shell nearly at a right angle to and bisecting the slot 95 in the shell, as will be seen by comparing the direction of the slots of the shell, as shown in Fig. 15. The corner of the one side wall of the upper end of the slot 98 in the stem or shaft is beveled (see Figs. 25 and 29) to form a lug, 99, and the opposite side wall of the slot in the shell is beveled to avoid cutting the twine. \Vhen the shell is revolved in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 17, the forward end of these slots will be closed, and a wedge-shaped recess, 100, (see Fig. 18,) will appear between the opposing side walls of the slot of the shell and stem, which recess incloses the twine, so that when the twine is drawn toward the point of the stem in the process of tying the knot it will be wedged between the walls of the narrow point of the wedge-shaped recess and held there until the knot is tightened, after which it is released by the further operation of the machine. The slot 98 in the shell is enlarged, as shown at 101 in Fig. 15, so that after the stem and shell are given a threefourths turn to the left (see Fig. 15) and to the position shown in Fig. 16, the shell, continuing its revolution, will cause the slot 95 in it and the stem, respectively, to coincide, as shown in Fig. 17; but, as will be observed, although the lower end of the slot 98 is open, the upper forward end is closed by the shell, at which time the twine is held in the wedgeshaped recess 100.

Before a detailed description of the mechanism for causing the several movements of the looper be given, it may first be well to describe the manipulation of the twine by the shaft or stem and shell comprising the looper,

over and upon the looper-shell, and afterward take a position back of the loop, so that when the looper is withdrawn from its forward position in the final movement to tie the knot the finger aids in pushing the loop off, as will be presently described. Forward of this lifting finger, and bearing in the end and side of the case, is a flat obliquely-arranged reciprocating knife, 103, the cuttingedge on the end of which is at an oblique angle to the length of the knife, which is adapted to reciprocate across the path of the knotter to sever the band from the twine after the knot is tied and drawn taut.

As before described,and by reference to Figs. 21, 22 and 26, it will be understood that the end of the twine, when the twine is being carried around the sheaf to form the band, is in the grasp of the twine-holder, and bears upon the guides 86 and 57 in a line coinciding with the slot 95 of the looper, and the shaft and shell of the looper stand in their first position. (Shown in Fig. 14.) The tucker 81(see Fig. 9) carries the spool portion'of the twine under the bundle against the guide 86, and the binding-arm, continuing its downward movement, brings it against the guide 87. Both parts of the twine forming the band are thus carried and held contiguous to and parallel with each other, so that in actual operation slot 95 receives a double instead of a single twine, as shown in Figs. 14, 15, 16, and 17. After the looper and twine are in their first position (shown in Fig. 14) the looper is projecting through the case, and the lifting-finger is below the plane of the looper. the parts in this position the shell is revolved to the position shown in Fig. 15, closing the forward end of the slot 95. The shaft and shell then recedeto the limit of their backward stroke, during which they simultaneously make a threefonrths turn, twisting the twine upon itself to form the loop, which at this time extends forward of the point of the looper, as shown in Fig. 28. After completing their backward stroke and forming the loop the shaft and shell advance, slacking the loop,and then the lifting-finger rises, throwing the loop over the loopershell, as shown in Figs. 16 and 21, the twine between the liftingfinger and twine-holder passing into slot 98 as the looper continues to advance, during which time the lifting-finger is withdrawn. The shaft and shell completing their forward stroke, the latter then makes its last rotary motion, closing the slot 98 at its outer end only, as shown in Figs. 17 and 18, and at the same time the lifting-finger advances across the top of the shell in the rear of the loop, (in the form shown in Fig. 17,) and the shaft and shell recede without revolving, the loop comes With in contact with the finger and is pushed off the point of the looper; but it is necessary that the band should be put under tension between the receding looper and expanding sheaf to tighten the knot when the loop is slipped off the point of the looper, and the effect of this tension is to sometimes draw the loop off before it comes in contact wit-h the lifting-finger. The instant the twine is locked in the looper for the last time, as shown in Fig. 17, the pressure from the binding and compressor arms and the auxiliary compressor is released from the sheaf, and, with the knot ter receding and sheaf expanding, the lower ends of the twine are drawn forward and wedged in the recess 100, the knife severing the twine the instant the looper clears the knife, and the looper, continuing its backward movement, pulls on the severed end of the band, while the expansion of the sheaf tightening the band co-operates to tighten the knot, after which the loopershell revolves and releases the band. After the band is released the shaft and shell of the looper revolve backward to the first position, (shown in Fig. 14,) and then advance at the proper time through the case to receive the twine for forming a knot in another band. As soon as the twine is locked in the looper for the last time, and the liftingfinger has advanced across the top of the shell in the rear of the loop, the twineholcler 91 (see Figs. 10, 21, and 22) recedes,

provided at its lower end with a projecting lug, around which the twine is given apartial turn when the bindingarm ascends, and the effect of this partial turn is to give the holder such a firm grip on the twine as to effectually prevent the accidental detachment of the twine from the holder by any strain exerted by the binding-arm or the pressure of the sheaf.

' Having described the constructionand operation of the parts of the tying mechanism which operate directly on the cord, it remains necessaryto describe the actuating mechanism of those parts. The main shaft 104 of the tying mechanism (see Figs. 1, 4, 9, and 10) has its bearings in a journal-box, 105, in the case E of the tying mechanism, (see Fig. 10,) and projecting beyond the front of the machine is another bearing in the journal box, (not shown,) secured near the front edge and to the bottom of the binding-table. said projecting end on the shaft having rigidly secured thereon a pinion, 106, (see Figs. 1 and 4, and dotted lines, Fig. 9,) meshing with the gear 25, through which the entire tying mechanism is actuated. The inner end of the main shaft 104 is provided with a pinion (not shown) engaging with a corresponding gear, 107, (see Fig. 13,) on a vertical shaft, 108, said gear having on its under face a plate, 109. (see dotted hues, Fig.15.) provided with a cam-groove, 110, and on the upper side of the gear is a semicircular cam plate, 111, secured to the gear and having one of its corners rounded; but these plates may be cast with the gear instead of as above described. On the shaft 108, above and separate from the gear 107, (see Fig. 10.) is a cam-grooved wheel, the groove of which is on its upper face. Pivoted to a projection, 113, on the case is a bifurcated lever, 114, having about midway its length a stud, 115, engaging with the cam 112. The bifurcated end of the lever straddles a collar, 116, sleeved upon and toward the rear end of the looper-shaft 92, said lever being provided with elongated slots 117, through the upper one of which projects the pin 118, and. through the lower one a long pin, 119, the elongation of the slots providing for the accommodation of the pins to the radius of the circle described by the movements of thelever. On each side of the collar 116 are rigidly secured to the looper-shaft collars 120, and on the underside of the bifurcated end of the lever is a plate, 121, provided with an elongated slot in which the pin 119 is guided to maintain the collar 116 in its operative position. WVith these parts in the position shown in Fig. 10,the main shaft and cam turned in the direction indicated by the arrows, the looper will recede until the pin on the lever reaches the lower corner of the cam-groove, when the looper will remain stationary until the cam is revolved to engage the pin with the opposite sidebfrthe cam at the point of the arrow, when the lever will be carried forward, pushing the looper with it, the sleeving of the lever on the looper permitting the looper to be revolved, as hereinafter described, a single revolution of the cam 112 serving to cause two forward and two backward movements of the looper necessary in the tying of the knot. The lever 114 is provided with a link, 121%, pivoted at one end of thelever and atits other end to the upturned end of the coil-spring 122, on and secured at its lower end to a vertical stud, 123. Pivoted to a stud, 124, which also forms a bearing for the looper, is a studded arm, 125, the studs of which, five in number, are shown at the extremity of the arm, and engage with the segment of a lantern-gear, 126, onasleeve, 127, on tl1elooper,which sleeve is joined to or east with a cam, 127}, (see Figs. 19 and 20,) engaged by a pin, 128, on a plate, 129, on a slide, 130, bearing upon the loopershell and guided in a slot in a thimbleshaped keeper, 131, made rigid to the looper-shaft, a tongueat one'end of the slide 130 being guided between the keeper and the shell, and atongue at the other end of the slide being guided between a cam, 1275, and the looper-shaft, said keeper being recessed for that purpose. A pin, 132, rigid on the shaft and working in an elongated slot in the shell, limits the revolution of the shell when closing the eye of the looper. Rigid in the looper-shell is a pin, 133, playing in aslot, 134'; obliquely cut in the slide 130, which causes a partial rotation of the looper-shell when theslide is reciprocated, as will presently be described. Studded arm has at its rear end (see Fig. 13) an arm, 135, provided at its extremity with a vertical stud, 136, engaging with the cam-plate 109 on the under side of the beveled gear 107, by means of which the studded arm 125 is oscillated to rock sleeve 127. Sleeved on the stud 124 is a segment rack-bar, 137, an arm, 138, which engages with a semi-circular carn-plate, 111, on the upper face of the gear 107, which cam 111 serves to swing the segment-rack toward the cam and revolve the looper by reason of the engagement of the rack with a pinion, 141, on thelooper-shaft, the rack being withdrawn at the propertirne bya retractionspring, 139, fast to one end of the case and to its other end to a projection, 140, on the rack 137. Pinion 141 is splined to the shaft, the spline fitting alongitudinal groove, 142, therein, so as to permit it to reciprocate through the pinion, but not to be revolved independently, the reciprocation of the pinion on the shaft being prevented by a forked bracket, 1425', (see Fig. 10,) engaging with the groove 143 (see Fig. 20) in a hub, 144, east with the pinion.

These devices for actuating the'looper will operate as follows: WVhen the looper is at the limit of its backward stroke, and in position to advance through the case to grasp the twine for the first time, if the shaft 104 and the cam 112 be revolved in the direction indicated by their respective arrows in Fig. 10, the lever 114 will engage with cam 112 and advance the looper shaft and shell without turning to the .limit of their forward stroke, when the lever 135 of the studded arm 125 will engage with the cam of the plate 109, revolving the shell, as shown in Fig. 15, by reason of the pin 128 engaging with the \I-shaped portion of the cam 127%, and pushing the slide 130 forward, causing the engagement of the pin 133 with the oblique walls of the slot 134,thus turning the loopershell. As soon as the shell isrevolved to the position shown in Fig. 15. the looper shaft and shell are withdrawn by the lever 114 and are simultaneously revolved a threefourths turn during their backward movement by the engagement of the arm 138 of the segment-rack 137 with the semicircular cam 111 swinging the rack 137 toward the cam and revolving the pinion 141 on the looper-shaft. Reaching the end of the backward stroke, the looper shaft and shell are again advanced by lever 114, without turning, to the limit of their for ward stroke, and having obtained this position remain stationary until the lever 135, cugaging with its cam, causes the studded arm 125 to oscillate the looper-shell, as before described, closing the slot 98 of the looper shaft and shell, as shown in Fig. 17, after which lever 114 draws the looper back, and after the then completed knot is tightened and released from the looper, and the looper having reached the limit of its backward stroke, the arm 138 being freed from its cam, the segment 137 is quickly swung away from the cam by its spring 139 revolving the looper a three-fourths turn backward, andin position to be then advanced for tying another knot. Geared to the beveled cog-wheel107 by a pinion (not shown) is a shaft, 145, carrying upon its opposite end a beveled pinion (not shown) engaging with a beveled gear on the under side ot'the cam-faced wheel 146, (see Figs. 10 and 11,) which wheel has on its periphery a lug, 147, which is engaged by a bell-crank lever, 148, on a post, 149, the other end of the lever having an elongated slot, 150, working on a pin or the slidingcollar 151 on the shaft of'the twineholder 91, the same forminga bearing for the spiral spring 152, having its other end bearing against a collar, 153, on and toward the forward end of the twi'neholder. The collar 153 isscrew'threaded on theshaft of the twineholder to adjust the tension of the spring 152, and locked by a second collar, 154, both of which collars may be further tightened by screws (shown in Fig. 10) passing through the collar and impinging on the shaft. it will here be observed that the bevel-gears 107 and 146 revolve in the same time, and that the.

lug 147 operates but once during the operation of tying the knot, to draw the twine-holder back in position to receive the twine and clamp the same at a point between the binding-arm and the knot on the sheaf, and this operation of the twine-holder is very quickly performed. owing to the small size of the lug '147, for, as will be seen, the bell-crank 148 has but to travel up the short inclined side of the lug when it (the lever) will drop back to its position on the periphery of the gear. The knife 103 is pivoted near its rear end to a bent lever, 155, pivoted at its other end on a bracket-plate, 156, and provided at the angle of its bend with an anti-friction roller, 157, working on the periphery ofa cam face or plate, 158. (See Fig. 10.) Pressing against a rigid pin on the lever 155 is a fiat spring, 159, secured at the other end of the case and adjusted by means of a setscrew, 160, which spring operates to quickly throw the cutting-knife forward across the path of the loopcr to sever the twine below the completed knot when the anti-friction roller 157 sinks in the depression of the cam 158, which depression is shown in Fig. 10, opposite the anti-friction roller. Pivoted on a stud, 161, (see Fig. 10,) rigid to the frame of the bearing of the shaft of the gear 146, is a bellcrank lever, 162, the short arm of which is provided with a vertical projecting stud, 163, (see Fig. 12,) adapted to be engaged by a cam-lug, 164, on the face of the cam 158, to swing the long arm of the lever 162, which arm is provided at its extremity with a stud, 165, engagingwith a groove in the-downwardly-projectingarm 166 of the rockshaft 167 of the liftingfinger, said shaft being'journaled at one end in the side of the case and toward its inner end in a post, 168,and connected with the lifting-finger by a rectangular arm, 169, rigid on the shaft; and on the finger abutting against the arm 166 of the rock-shaft and the case is a spring, 170, coiled aboutthe shaft 167, to throw the shaft forward, and with it the lifting-finger, across the path of the needle at the proper time. The rockshaft arm 166 has an elongated slot engaging with a pin, 171, (see Fig. 12,) projecting at a right angle from the reciprocating lever-172, bearing in parallel posts 173, and provided with a stud, 174, engaging with a cam-groove, 175, in the upper face of gear 146, which camgroove operates to reciprocate the lever 172 and rock-shaft 167, causin the lifting-finger to be raised and lowered over the point of the loopcr. \Vhen the knotter is at the limit of its back ward stroke, and in position to start forward to grasp the twine the first time, the lifting-finger is across the path and directly in front of its point a little below its center, and 21s the loopcr advances the lifting-linger, by the operation of the rock-shaft through the camgroove 175 and the connecting'lever 172, is caused to sink to its lowest position below the loopcr, where it remains until the looper has advanced, and its shell is rotated to the position shown in Fig. 15, and the loopcr has taken a three-fourths turn and withdrawn to the limit of its backward stroke. Asecond operation of the rock-shaft lifts the finger across the path of the loopcr, which carries with it the loop above the plane of the looper, the loopcr at the same time being advanced and its upper half projecting through the loop as it seizes the twine the second time. As soon as the looper seizes the twine the second time, the cam 164 engageswith the bell-crank 162, draws the lifting-finger directly to one side of the looper, which continues to advance until the loop is in front of the lifting-finger, when the latter is again advanced by the release of the bell-crank fromits cam, the finger remaining in its advanced position until the looper is withdrawn, the loop pushed off by the finger,

the then formed knot tightened, and the band cut from the twine, after which the knot is released, and the looper continuing to recede taking a three-fourths turn backward, while,

in the meantime, the lifting-finger sinks 'to its first position to repeat the operation above described.

Having now described the construction and operation of my machine as a whole in detail,

it may be well for a more perfect understand ing to briefly state itsgeneraloperation,which is as follows: WVith the gavel-gage, the divider, and the binding-arm elevated to their highest positions, and the twine passing from its tension device through the arm 82, and the eye of the bindingarrn to the twine-holder of the knotter, the harvester is advanced through the IIO standing grain, and the cut grain, falling from the cutting apparatus on the platform, is carried forward by the rake-teeth to the gaveltable, where it will lie until a suflicient quantity has accumulated to form a gavel, after which the gavel-gage is pressed down, and at the same moment the divider descends and the lifting-fingers rise, throwing the gavel against the twine, between the point of the bindingarm and binding-table, and under the gavel-compressor in position to be grasped by the then descending binding-arm and its op posing compressor arm. The bindingarm draws the twine tightly around the gave] and in position to be grasped by the looper, at which instant the auxiliary sheaf-compressor descends forcibly upon the gavel,'still further compressing it and slacking the twine, to enable the knotter to operate without danger of breaking the twine. It should first be stated that when the gavel-gage is pressed over the clutch mechanism is engaged, thereby starting the gear25 and quickly and simultaneously operating the bi nding and compressing arms and lifting-finger, and then successively operating the auxiliary compressor and knotter mechanism.

In the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the bindingtable is at its extreme adjustment for long grain; but for shorter grain it is correspondingly drawn forward on its supporting guiderods and held by any suitable means, so as to bring the binding-arm and tying devices toward the butt of the grain to enablethe band to be placed centrally on the bundle.

In conclusion, it should be stated that the shaft 92 and shell 94 have for convenience, when taken together,been termeda looper, but from their operation hereinbefore described. it will be understood that in themselves they not only form the loop, afterward lifted over them by thelit'ting-finger, but actually draw the twine through the loop to form the completed knot, so that as a matter of fact the shell and shaft actually constitute a co1nplete knotter, excepting that the lifting-finger or some other device is required for elevating the loop in the path of the shaft and shell, which loop has already been formed by their joint operation.

In other loopers the loop is formed on a shell or tube; but in this device the loop is completed in front of the looper and afterward elevated over upon it.

Having thus described my invention,what I desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination,with thegrain-receiving platform or table, of the binding-table and the intermediate gavel-table, all of said tables being arranged substantially in the same horizontal plane, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination, with the grain-receiw ing platform, the gavel-table, and a binderarm, of the divider suspended above said platform and table and mechanism operating said divider independently of the binder-arm,substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the grain-receivgage mounted upon the gavel-table, all ar- 8 ranged substantially as described.

8. Thecombination,with the gavel-table,the stationary grain-receiving platform, and the carrier,of the gavel-gage mounted on the gaveltable and vibrating transfer-fingers, all arranged substantially as described. I

9. The combination, with the stationary grain-receiving platform and the carrier, of a gavel-gage, the grain-divider, and transferfingers, all arranged substantiallyv as described.

10. The combination, with a grain-divider having its bearings in the stationary grain-receiving platform and provided with an elongated rib on its shaft, of a sliding bindingtable,a cam-wheel, and a lever pivoted on the table, said lever being operated by the camwheel and engaged with an elongated rib on the divider-shaft for actuating the divider, substantially as described.

11. The combination, with the shaft of the gavelgage mounted on or below the bindingtable, and with the operating mechanism of the grain-binder, of the arm 43, pivoted on the shaft of the gavel-gage and free at its opposite end, substantially as described.

12. The combination, with the gavel-gage, and with the operating mechanism of the grain-binder,of the arm 43,1oosely seated upon the gavel-gage shaft, and the spring-connection between the shaft and arm, substantially as described.

13. The combination, with the transfer-fingers having the pinion on their shaft, a revolving cam, and a lever, one end of said le-' ver engaging with the cams,and the other end being provided with a segment rack and engaging with the pinion on the shaft of the transfer-fingers, substantially as described.

14. The combinatiomwith the sliding gavel and binding table and a revolving cam mounted thereon, of the transfer-fingersjournaled in the grain-receiving platform, an actuating-pinion adapted to slide on the shaft of the transfer-fingers, and a lever pivoted on the sliding binding-table and engaging with said cam and pinion, substantially as de scribed.

15. The combination of the transfer-fingers ICC 

